culpable
At fault legally
Culpable means deserving blame or censure for wrongdoing.
The word carries legal weight—culpable negligence implies fault serious enough to warrant punishment.
But it applies broadly to anyone at fault: Both parties were culpable in the dispute.
Less harsh than guilty, culpable suggests responsibility without necessarily implying malice.
Moral self-reproach
- remorseGuilt for wrongdoing
- shamePainful awareness of failure
- contritionRemorseful state over misdeeds
- regretSorrow over past actions
repentance · conscience · sinful · wrongdoing · transgression · iniquity · penitence · confession
Legal or financial obligation
- negligenceFailure to exercise care
- tortActionable civil harm
- defendantParty facing charges
- indictmentFormal charge from jury
conviction · judgment · damages · malpractice · breach · criminal · recklessness · intent
Imperfection or blame
- responsibilityState of being answerable
- accusationClaim someone did wrong
- reproachExpression of disappointment
- condemnationSevere disapproval expressed formally
censure · finger-pointing · allegation · imputation · recrimination · castigation · reproval · blameworthiness
guilt
Moral self-reproach
- remorseGuilt for wrongdoing
- shamePainful awareness of failure
- contritionRemorseful state over misdeeds
regret · repentance · conscience · sinful · wrongdoing · transgression · iniquity · penitence · confession · atonement
liability
Legal or financial obligation
- negligenceFailure to exercise care
- tortActionable civil harm
- defendantParty facing charges
indictment · conviction · judgment · damages · malpractice · breach · criminal · recklessness · intent · mens rea
fault
Imperfection or blame
- responsibilityState of being answerable
- accusationClaim someone did wrong
- reproachExpression of disappointment
condemnation · censure · finger-pointing · allegation · imputation · recrimination · castigation · reproval · blameworthiness · complicity
- derechofiscal, abogado, toga, circular, auto
- accountabilityaccountability, responsibility, accountable, take responsibility, answerability
- at faultguilty, at fault, to blame, blameworthy, responsible
- sentencias
- admissionsapplication, acceptance letter, admissions, application deadline, admissions committee
- responsibility wordsaccountable, reliable, dependable, trustworthy, responsible
culpableinnocent
Free from moral wrong
blameless · guiltless · faultless · inculpable · irreproachable
culpablepraiseworthy
Deserving approval or admiration
laudable · commendable · meritorious · virtuous · exemplary
- moral culpabilityDeserved blame for wrongdoing